Nineteen-year-old Derrick C. Johnson was initially charged Feb. 13 with the three teens with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, possession of a deadly weapon during a felony, resisting arrest and conspiracy.

Johnson was committed to Vaughn Correctional Center in lieu of $31,500 secured bail.

But further investigation by police later determined that Johnson, who was driving the car the teens were riding in when caught, had nothing to do with the crime.

The charges against him were dropped after a review by the state Attorney General's Office and he was released from jail Feb. 17.

"He was still the driver," state police spokesman Master Cpl. Gary Fournier said. "But further investigation revealed he was not connected to the crime itself. No charges have been filed against him."

The incident occurred when a 17-year-old acquaintance of the victim lured him out of McDonald's in the Camden Wal-Mart where he was having lunch and told him he wanted to talk to him.

Then the two teens started walking toward nearby Briar Park with they met two other teens, ages 15 and 16, who started beating and punching the victim, demanding money and threatening the victim with a gun, Fournier said.

The three assailants then ran off and got into a car driven by Johnson.

A state trooper stopped the 2011 Ford Escape a few blocks away minutes later and arrested Johnson and the 15-year-old teen.

The other two assailants surrendered days later.

The victim, meanwhile, was treated for head injuries at Kent General Hospital.